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Mukudzei Chingwere
Herald Reporter
Local contractors are quite capable of building multi-storey apartment blocks and have many decades of experience of doing so, and thus there are no problems in meeting the Government’s recent initiative encouraging high-rise construction to address urban expansion and land preservation.
The assurances were given by Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) president Dr Tinashe Manzungu during the recent Africa Infrastructure and Built Environment Confex (AfriConfex) held in Bulawayo.
The commitment comes as part of a broader strategy to combat urban sprawl and preserve valuable land resources, as encouraged by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, while providing essential housing and commercial space for the growing population. Modern technologies could improve construction, reduce waste and upgrade safety.
Leading construction industry stakeholders from across Africa converged in Bulawayo last week to chart ways on maximising construction infrastructure development.
Dr Manzungu said building sustainable and resilient cities requires a proactive approach where innovative design, effective policy, and community engagement converge.
“We are excited to contribute to this vision of building structures going up to maximise on land use. We agreed 100 percent with the Government that we must maximise land use since our country will not grow any bigger,” said Dr Manzungu.
“The good thing on our part is that local contractors have the expertise and know how to build high rise apartments. What just needs to change is the mind set of property owners.
“Building sustainable and resilient cities requires a proactive approach, where innovative design, effective policy and community engagement converge.
“The future of our urban landscapes relies on our ability to adapt, collaborate and commit to the principles of sustainable development,” said Dr Manzungu.
Stakeholders in the construction sector could together shape a legacy of resilience and sustainability for generations to come.
Dr Manzungu also highlighted the adoption of modern technologies to be incorporated in today’s construction to match best international practices.
“In our pursuit to innovate we must explore alternative building technologies that use lightweight materials and disaster-resilient structures,” said Dr Manzungu.
“Innovations such as modular construction, 3D printing and the use of recycled materials can reduce waste and streamline labour processes.
“Government policy is the bedrock upon which our construction framework stands. To facilitate sustainable and modern building standards, we advocate for continuous improvement in regulations that support innovation.”
Dr Manzungu said the enactment of the Construction Bill serves as a crucial step toward enforcing best practices in building and infrastructure development.
He said this legislation must mandate not just adherence to safety standards but also integrate eco-friendly practices and innovative technologies.
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